Teachers get ‘Excellence’ awards

• Joanne Warner, center, and Cathy Schewe with Bob Benoy

Two Hudson teachers were winners of Education Foundation of Hudson Star Excellence awards. Education Foundation President Bob Benoy, left, made the presentation. The winners were Joanne Warner, center, and Cathy Schewe. Each winner received an engraved vase and a cash award of $3,000. Photo by Doug Stohlberg

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Two teachers were presented Star Excellence Awards from the Education Foundation of Hudson during the 2010 Senior Recognition Awards Night at Hudson High School Wednesday, May 19.

The two winners were Cathy Schewe and Joanne Warner. Schewe is a fourth-grade teacher at E.P. Rock Elementary; Warner is a fifth-grade teacher at Trinity Academy.

The Education Foundation is a community-based, private organization that provides financial support for innovative educational programs in both public and private schools in Hudson.

Foundation President Bob Benoy presented the Star Excellence Awards.

“Tonight’s winners were selected among many deserving teachers and staff members nominated by parents, peers and students,” Benoy said.

Each winner received an engraved vase and a check for $3,000.

Schewe has taught for 19 years, with the last nine years in Hudson. She is originally from Sleepy Eye, Minn., and earned her bachelor’s degree at Minnesota State University in Mankato. She also has a master’s degree from UW-River Falls.

In being nominated for the award, it was said that “She hold students accountable and they respect and admire her. Her sense of humor and involvement with the students goes above and beyond any teacher’s duties.”

Schewe and her husband, Alan Schwerzler, live in Stillwater and have two children, Mason, 10, and Myles, 7.

Warner has taught for 12 years, the last four at Trinity Academy. She is originally from Chicago and received her degree from Carthage College in Kenosha. She has spent part of her career in the health care industry and has a Child Life degree from Johns Hopkins Hospital.

In being nominated for the award, it was said that she has “a genuine love of teaching and the kids. She finds the strengths of each child, but is also encouraging in areas of weakness. She helps them think outside the box in solving problems.”

Warner and her husband, Dan, live in Baldwin and have three adult children, Cheryl, Karen and Rebecca.

In addition to Benoy, foundation board members are Dr. Ron Bernth, Nola Gehn, Jodell Krause, Vickie Harris, Arnie Fett, Doug Stohlberg and Marion Schultz. Steven Keller is the organization’s volunteer executive director.

In addition to the Star Excellence Award, the foundation oversees the Star Grant program that benefits students in local schools.

The foundation typically funds innovative programs that would not be included in a school’s normal budgeting process. The foundation has supported local education with over $1,040,000 in funding since its inception in 1990.

Tags: education, teachers, hudson